Houston
container



March 25, 1969 L c. HOUSTON CONTAINER Sheet @riginal Filed Sept. 3. 1964INVENTOR LEWlS C. HOUSTON ATTORNEYS March 25, 1969 L. c. HOUSTONCONTAINER sneet 2 of2 Original Filed Sept. 3, 1964 INVENTOR.

LEwls c. HOUSTON ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 26,557 'CONTAINERLewis C. Houston, Port St. Joe, Fla., assignor to St. Joe Paper Company,Jacksonville, Fla., a corporation of Florida Original No. 3,258,188,dated June 28, 1966, Ser. No. 394,193, Sept. 3, 1964. Application forreissue Mar. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 719,797

Int. Cl. B65d 3/24, 5/48, 45/00 U.S. Cl. 229-15 16 Claims Matterenclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms nopart of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicatesthe additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to containers and more particularly to libreboardcontainers of the type adapted for use in connection with the handling,storing and transporting fruits and vegetables and the like.

The transportation and storage of produce is commonly accomplished bypackaging such produce in corrugated kraft board containers. Typically,such kraft board or breboard is manufactured from a pair of spaced,parallel, at liner sheets between which is adhesively secured acorrugating medium which imparts overall strength thereto. Suchcorrugated fibreboard is commonly referred to in the art as single wallcorrugated board. The present invention is particularly adapted tocontainers assembled from blanks of single wall corrugated board. It isto be understood that other suitable materials, for example, double wallcorrugated board, may be used in the construction of the container inaccordance with the invention.

In containers of breboard, it is common practice to cut and score flatpieces of fibreboard to provide container blanks having score or foldlines and incised or cut out portions. Such blanks are usually shippedflat to the packing plant, where it is then erected for use by foldingalong the score lines to form a suitable container for the produce, andafter filling thereof, the container is closed ready for shipment and/or storage.

A general object of this invention is to provide an irnproved container.

Another general object is the provision of an improved compartmentedcontainer.

An additional general object is to provide an improved self-lockingcover and body of a container.

A particular object is to provide an improved rectangular body of acontainer of unusual sturdiness, characterized by reinforced cornersadjacent the upper edge thereof.

A related particular object is the provision of an improved containerbody in which the upper edge is reinforced substantially around theperimeter thereof.

An additional particular object is the provision of an improvedrectangular container body, characterized by double thickness slides,single thickness ends, double thickness upper edge portions of the ends,and triple thickness upper edge portions of the sides.

A further particular object is to provide an improved integral blank forfolding into a rectangular container body which is prescored and precutwith a minimum of waste material.

A specific object is the provision of an improved compartmentedcontainer wherein the divider is provided with self-locking meanscooperative with the container body for locking and maintaining suchbody in erected and usable condition, without use of staples and thelike.

An additional specific object is to provide an improved rectangularcontainer cover and body wherein the cover and body are provided withinterlocking means for locking and retaining the cover on the body atthe upper ends and sides thereof.

Re. 26,557 Reissued Mar. 25, 1969 Fice Another specific object is toprovide an improved container which may be shipped and/or stored inknock down or ilat condition and which may be quickly assembled anderected for use without skilled labor and without use of connectors,such as nails, staples, tapes, adhesives and the like.

A further specific object is the provision of an irnproved containerwhich is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical tomanufacture with a minimum of waste.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the container embodying the invention,the cover, divider and body portions of the container being shown inexploded open positions;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the assembleddivider and body portions of the container;

FIGURE 3 is a partial perspective view of the upper left corner of thebody portion of the container;

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view of the erected container with thecover portion in closing relation with respect to the body portionthereof;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a blank embodying the invention for formingthe body portion of the container;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a blank embodying the invention for formingthe cover embodying the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a blank for forming the divider portion ofthe container in accord with the invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE l, the container is generallydepicted at 10 and comprises a rectangular body 11, a liner or divider12 and a cover 13. Body 11 includes a single thickness bottom 15 joinedto upstanding single thickness end walls 16 and 17 and to upstandingouter side walls 18 and 19. A pair of inner side wall panels 20 and 21are connected by wall angle fold lines, such as line 22, to end wall 17,it being understood that inner side Wall panels 23 and 24 are similarlyconnected to end wall 16. Opposite respective wall angle fold lines,including line 22, the inner side panels 20, 21, 23 and 24 are providedwith inwardly directed flanges 25, 26, 27 and 28, anges 25 and 26abutting oppositely disposed anges 27 and 28 generally medial betweenend walls 16 and 17.

The upper ends 29, 30 and 31 respectively of end wall 16 and inner sidewall panels 23 and 24 include an outwardly and downwardly directedsemi-perimeter flange 32 which is constituted by side wall portions 33and 34 and end wall portion 35. The upper edge portions, including edgeportion 36, as seen in FIGURE 3, of outer side walls 18 and 19 arenestingly disposed between the downwardly directed flange side wallportions 33 and 34 and respective inner side wall panels 23 and 24. Asimilar semi-perimeter flange is provided at the upper edges of end wall17 and inner side wall panels 20 and 21 thereby providing, with ange 32,an outwardly and downwardly directed perimeter locking means forcooperatively retaining the cover 13 thereon, as described more fullyhereinafter. The outwardly and downwardly directed semi-perimeter anges32 and 40 reinforce the upper perimeter edge of the container `body 11and greatly strengthen the upper corners thereof.

A plurality of vents are provided in the outer side walls 18 and 19 andcorresponding vents 46 extend through inner side wall panels 20, 21, 23and 24 which align with respective vents 45. Additional vents 47 are cutout of end walls 16 and 17, as desired to prevent spoilage of perishableproduce which may be packaged therein. Elongated handle holes 48 and 49are provided in the respective body end walls 16 and 17 spaced below therespective outwardly and downwardly extending semiperimeter anges 32 and40.

Means are provided in the container for locking and maintaining body 11in its erected and usable condition, such means being depicted at S0,and herein is constituted by liner 12. Liner 12 includes a pair ofspaced partition walls 51 and 52 connected at their upper ends byintermediate portion 53, which overlies the upper edges of flanges 25,26, 27 and 28 when liner 12 is inserted into the open ended containerbody 11 as shown in FIGURE 2. A pair of side wall liner portions 54 and55 are connected by vertical score lines, such as line S6, to partitionwall 52 and extend toward body end wall 16 sufficiently to be nestinglydisposed within respective body wall angles adjacent end wall 16 whenliner 12 is positioned in operative relation internally of containerbody 11. Similarly, side wall liner portions 57 and 58 are connected byvertical score lines to partition wall 51 and extend toward and areadapted to be nestingly disposed within body wall angles adjacent endwall 17. When liner 12 is in its operative position within containerbody 11, the inwardly directed pairs of flanges 25 and 27, and flanges26 and 28 are lockingly retained in juxtaposition between the inwardlydirected opposite faces of partition walls 51, 52with the vertical ends59, 60, 61 and `62 nestingly fitted into respective wall angles of thecontainer body 11 thereby firmly locking body 11 in an upright, erectedand usable condition. When the liner 12 is so positioned the outwardlydirected faces of liner portions 54, 55, 57 and 58 are adjacent andparallel to respective inwardly directed faces of the inner side wallpanels 23, 24, and Z1, thereby providing the container 10 with triplethickness side walls.

The cover 13 of container 10 comprises a top panel 65 having dependingside walls, such as wall 66, arranged to telescope over the upper openend portion of the conrainer body 11. Cover side wall 66 has an end ear68 tucked into and held by double folded end wall 67, which includesspaced locking tabs 69 and 70 inserted into spaced openings 71 and 72 intop panel 65, and a similar corner construction is employed at eachcorner of cover 13. Cover 13 includes means inwardly thereof forinterengagement with the semi-perimeter fianges 32 and 40 of thecontainer body 11 at the ends and sides thereof when the cover 13 isclosingly placed over the body 11 thereby providing a positive locktherebetween at the sides and ends of container 10, such an arrangementbeing more fully described in connection with FIGURE 4.

The parts of the blank 75, as shown in FIGURE 5, for the body 11 ofcontainer 10 are identified with iden tical reference characters asemployed in connection with the respective corresponding parts of theassembled or erected container body 11 as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.Blank 75 is shown in its completed form after it has been cut from asheet of single wall corrugated board in the desired peripheral outlinewith a minium of waste thereof. The blank 75 has been prescored, asindicated by broken lines, and precut as indicated by full lines, topermit proper manipulation thereof into the container body 11.

Blank 75 comprises a rectangular bottom 15, outer side walls 18 and 19extending respectively from opposite elongated edges or fold lines 76and 77 of bottom 15, and end walls 16 and 17 extending respectively fromopposite reduced edges or fold lines 78 and 79. Inner side wall panels23 and 24 are formed along the respective opposite edges or score lines80 and 81 of end wall 16, panels 23 and 24 having free edges 82 and 83cut from respective outer side walls 18 and 19. Inner side wall panels20 and 21 are similarly joined to respective edges or score lines 34 and85 o f end wall 17 and have free edges 86 and 87 cut from respectiveouter side walls 18 and 19. Flanges 27, 28, and 26 are joined byrespective flange angle fold lines 88, 89, 90 and 91, which extendsubstantially parallel to score lines 80, 81, 84 and 85, to respectiveside wall panels 23, 24, 20 and 21.

The Semi-perimeter ange 32 is formed along the upper ends 29, and 31 ofend wall 16 and inner side wall panels 23 and 24 as shown by doubleperforated score lines 92, and lateral score lines 93 and 94 intersectdouble score lines 92 and are extensions of respective score lines 80and 81 thereby dividing tiange 32 into side wall portions 33 and 34 andend wall portion 35. Flange portions 33 and 34 terminate in free edges95 and 96 opposite respective lateral score lines 93 and 94, free edges95 and 96 being in general alignment with respective fold iines 80 and81 so that edges 95 and 96 will be closely adjacent respective freeedges 97 and 98 of flange portions 99 and 100 of semi-perimeter flange40 thereby providing a substantially complete perimeter ange around theupper portion of the container body 11. Flange is similarly joined bydouble perforated score lines 101 along the upper ends of end wall 17and inner side wall panels 20 and 21.

The double perforated score lines 92 and 101 are the preferred manner ofconstruction for the container body 11 to permit the proper folding ofthe flanges 32 and 40 outwardly and downwardly to lie externally of theouter side walls 18 and 19 of the end walls 16 and 17. It is to beunderstood that other techniques of accomplishing substantially similarresults may be employed in lieu thereof, for example, a five pointdouble wall score may be used which provides two scores on one face ofthe corrugated sheet material and three scores on the other facethereof. The lateral scores 93 and 94 on semi-perimeter Harige 35, andsimilar scores on ange 40, are provided to permit such flanges toproperly bend around the corners formed at the upper end portions ofadjacent side and end walls of the container body 11.

The blank 75, shown in FIGURE 5, is transformed into the fully set-up orerected container body 11, shown in FIGURE 1, by the exemplifiedmanipulative steps hereinbelow. First, the semi-perimeter anges 32 and40 are respectively folded substantially 180 downwardly along doubleperforated score lines 92 and 101 to lie outwardly of and adjacent endwalls 16 and 17. Flanges 25, 26, 27 and 28 are folded substantially 90upwardly along respective fold lines 90, 91, 88 and 89 to assume avertical position. Inner side wall panels 20, 21, 23 and 24 are bentsubstantially 90 upwardly along respective score lines 84, 85, and 81.The outer side walls 18 and 19 are folded substantially upwardly alongtheir respective fold lines 76 and 77 into their erected verticalposition. Each of the end walls 16 and 17 is then bent upwardly, witheach of its attached inner side wall panels 23, 24 and 20, 21 beingpositioned slightly inwardly of the vertical outer side walls 18 and 19,along its respective fold lines 78 and 79. As the end walls 16 and 17are being manipulated upwardly, the upper edge portions 36 and 37 ofrespective outer side walls 19 and 18 are slidably positioned betweenthe respective downturned semi-perimeter fiange portions 34 and 33 andinner side wall panels 24 and 23, and are also slidably positionedbetween the respective downturned semi-perimeter flange portions and 99and inner side wall panels 21 and 20. With the end walls 16 and 17`fully erected into their vertical position; the semi-perimeter flanges32 and 40 frictionally engage and retain outer side walls 18 and 19 intheir erected vertical positions, and the inwardly directed lockingflanges 25 and 27 abut and anges 26 and 28 abut thereby completing thecontainer body 11 as shown in FIGURE 1.

The liner blank 105, shown in FIGURE 7, is properly scored on its upperface 106 along lines 107, 108, 109 and 56 which are the respective lineson which partition side wall liner portions 58, 57, 55 and 54 arefolded. A double fold line 110 is scored on the reverse face (not shown)of blank 105, such double fold line defining the intermediate portion 53between partition walls 51 and 52. After the blank 105 is foldedupwardly along score lines 107, 108, 109 and 56 and folded downwardlyalong double fold line 110, the liner or divider 12 is completely setup, as shown in FIGURE 1, for positioning within the erected containerbody 11 with the abutting flanges 25, 27 and flanges 26 and 28 lockinglyretained between partition walls 51 and 52 and the edges 59, 60, 61 and62 being nestingly disposed within respective body wall angles,including wall angle 22. The liner blank 105 is provided with aplurality of vents 11.1 in the side wall liner portions 54, 55, 57 and58 which generally align with respective corresponding vents 46 in theinner side wall panels 20, 21, 23 and 24 which in turn are aligned withvents 45 in outer side walls 18 and 19.

The cover blank is shown in its finished form in FIGURE 6, having beencut from a piece of single wall corrugated board to provide the desiredperipheral outline. Blank 115 comprises a center top panel 65 ofrectangular plan and defined by fold lines 116, 117, 118 and 119. Sidepanels or walls 66 and 120 extend longitudinally of fold lines 119 and117 and terminate at each end in an end locking flap or ear 68. Eachlocking ear 68 is hingedly attached to a respective end of the coverside walls 66 and 120 by a fold line 121 which extends parallel to theend wall fold lines 116 and 118 by which respective end walls 67 and 122are attached to top panel 65. Each fold line 121 is spaced inwardly ofthe next adjacent fold line 116 and 118 a distance substantially equalto the thickness of the corrugated board in the conventional manner. Endwalls 67 and 122 have outer longitudinal edges defined by double scorelines 123 and 124 which are parallel to fold lines 116 and 118. Innerend wall portions 125 and 126 are hingedly connected along respectivedouble score lines 123 and 124. Inner end wall portions 125 and 126 eachhave a pair of spaced locking flaps 127 and 128 terminating outwardly infriction locking tabs 69 and 70. Correspondingly, the top panel 65 isprovided with spaced openings or slots 71 and 72 aligned with respectivetabs 69 and 70. Each of the slots 71 and 72 is of a length substantiallyequal to the length of the associated tabs 69 and 70 and of a widthsubstantially equal to the thickness of such tabs.

The means for locking the cover 13 to the body 11 is seen to include endwall parts or flanges 130 and 131 of respective inner end wall portions125 and 126, such flanges 130 and 131 being located between respectivepairs of locking flaps 127 and 128 and terminating spacedly inwardly oflocking tabs 69 and 70. The free upper edges 132 and 133 of the upwardlyextending end wall flanges 130 and 131 are adapted to engage withrespective lower free edges 103 and 104 of semi-perimeter flanges 32 and40 of container body 11 as described more fully in connection withFIGURE 4.

The cover side walls 66 and .120 include respective elongated sideflanges 135 and 136 hingedly connected thereto by fold lines 137 and 138which extend parallel to fold lines 117 and 119. The free upper edge 139of cover side flange 136 is adapted for engagement with the respectivelower free inner side panel edges 140 and 141 of semi-perimeter flanges32 and 40 as shown in FIG- URE 4 and described hereinbelow. The freeupper edge 142 of cover side flange 135 similarly engages each of thelower free inner side panel edges 143 and 144 of semiperimeter flanges32 and 40.

Generally medial of top panel 65, openable flaps and 151 are provided topermit inspection of the contents of the filled container. Flaps 150 and151 are hingedly attached to the remainder of the top panel 65 by scorelines 152 and 153 which extend parallel to score lines 116 and 118. Apair of parallel perforated score lines 154 and 155 extend `betweenscore lines 152 and 153, lines 154 and 155 being parallel to score lines117 and 119. A lateral perforated score line 156 extends betweenperforated score lines 154 and 155 and is parallel to Score lines 152and 153. A finger opening 157 extends through top panel 65 generallylaterally of perforated score line 156 and on either side thereofproviding each flap 150 and 151 with means by which each such flap maybe forcibly torn along the perforated score lines 156, 154 and 155, asdesired, and remain hinged on either score line 152 and 153 forreclosing. Vents 160 extend through flaps 150 and 151 adjacent theintersection between score lines 152 and 153 and perforated score lines154 and 155. If desired lines 152 and 153 may also be perforated inorder that the entire flaps 150 and 151 may be removed and the ventswould also then be used in the same manner as set forth above withrespect to finger opening 157. Tear strips 158 and 159 are provided onthe cover blank 1.15 and extend lateraly across the top panel 65 oneither side of flaps 150 and 151, generally in alignment with score line156. After the cover 13 is placed on the erected container body 11 andthe inwardly and upwardly directed locking end flanges 130 and 131 andside flanges 135 and 136 engage and lock beneath outwardly anddownwardly directed semi-perimeter flanges 32 and 40, it is difcult toremove the cover 13 from the container body 11 without the incorporationof, for example, tear strips .158 and 159 in the cover 13.

The cover blank 115 is assembled into the cover 13 by first bending theside flanges 135 and 136 downwardly along fold lines 137 and 138. Theside walls 66 and 120 are folded downwardly and inwardly along foldlines 119 and 117 until the side walls 66 and 120 are perpendicular tothe top panel 65. The end ears 68 are bent inwardly along fold lines 121until the ears 68 are perpendicular to the upstanding side walls 66 and120. Thereafter, the end walls 67 and 122 are folded downwardly alongfold lines 116 and 118 until the end walls 67 and 122 are perpendicularto top panel 65 and the end walls 67 and 122 are in face to faceabutment with locking end ears 68. Next the end wall portions 125 and126 are folded inwardly and upwardly over end ears 68 and the tabs 69and 70 are inserted into their cooperating openings 71 and 72 in toppanel 65 thereby completing the erection of the cover 13 from blank 115.

Referring to FIGURES 1-4, and particularly to FIG- URE 4, the cover 13is shown in a closed and locked position on the container body 11. Theelongated cover locking flanges, including end flange 13|] and sideflange 136 project inwardly and upwardly toward the container body 11,and are lockingly engaged beneath the elongated body lockng flanges,including end flange 35 and side flange 33. The outturned flange 32,which extends substantially around one half of the perimeter of thecontainer and around the outer side walls 18 and 19 and end wall 16, isunder tension thereby maintaining the flange 32 closely adjacent and/orcontiguous with the outer side walls .18 and 19 and end wall 16. Suchtensioning of the flange 32 permits the proper engagement between thecover locking upturned flanges and the body locking downturned flangesin order that the cover anges will not move and become positionedbetween the body locking flanges and the upstanding outer side walls ofthe body 11. The outturned flanges 32 and 40 provide the container bodyl1 with a reinforced upper edge and reinforced upper corners because theflanges are substantially continuous around such corners. Furthermore,the outturned flanges 32 and 40, being under tension and extending overthe outer side walls 18 and 19, provide friction locking means for suchouter side walls, particularly adjacent the corners of the containerbody 11. FIGURE 4 clearly depicts the vertical end 59 of side wall linerportion 54 nested in the wall angle formed between end wall 16 and innerside wall panel 23.

After the cover 13 is locked onto the container body 11, as shown inFIGURE 4, the removal of the cover from the body is difficult and thetear strips 158 and/or 159 may be forcibly pulled to facilitate theremoval of the cover 13 from the body 11. The loaded container may thenhave its entire contents exposed for display and/or removed therefrom.If the contents of the filled container 10 is to be inspected, theinspector or buyer merely forcibly opens one or both of the inspectionflaps 150 and 151.

The corrugations in the body blank 75 is indicated by arrow A, andarrows B and C respectively depict the corrugations in cover blank 115and liner blank 105. In the erected or set up condition of the containeras shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3, and 4, the corrugations A in the outer sidewalls 18 and 19 are horizontal thereby providing the container with endto end compression strength. The corrugations A in the end walls 16 and17 and the inner side wall panels 21, 22, 23 and 24 are vertical toallow the container 10 to have a high stacking strength. The stackingstrength is increased by the vertical corrugations C in side wall linerportions 54, 55, 57 and 58 and in partition walls 51 and 52. Also, thevertical corrugations A of the inwardly directed locking flanges 25, 26,27 and 28 increases the container stacking strength. While single wallcorrugated board is specifically shown and described herein, it will beapparent that other types of board suitable for containers may besubstituted if desired.

It will be apparent that corrugations as depicted by arrow B may extendin the direction of end walls 67 and 122 thereby providing the containerwith side to side compression strength.

While only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has beenshown and described by `way of illustration, many modifications willoccur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that itbe understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover allsuch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

l. A compartmented rectangular container comprising a `body portion anda divider portion, said body portion including a bottom and upstandingend walls and upstanding outer side walls, upstanding inner side wallpanels connected by vertical wall angle fold lines to each said endwall, said inner side wall panels extending from said wall angles towardthe opposite end wall and terminating in an inwardly directed verticallocking flange [generally medial of and] perpendicular to said outerside walls, said locking flanges adjacent respective outer side wallsbeing in face to face closely adjacent relation, means connected to saidinner side wall panels for maintaining said outer side walls inupstanding positions, said divider portion including a pair ofupstanding partition walls and an intermediate portion interconnectingsaid partition walls in spaced face to face relation, said lockingflanges being positioned between said partition walls, said dividerfurther including means attached to said partition walls for maintainingsaid partition walls in closely spaced relation thereby retaining saidlocking flanges therebetween and maintaining said inner side wall panelsin upstanding positions.

2. A rectagular container having a body portion and a cover portion,said cover portion including means jor locking said cover portion tosaid body portion having a pair of oppositely disposed portionsterminating upwardly in respective [having upwardly extending] lockingedges within said cover portion, said body portion comprising arectangular bottom having side edges and end edges, two upstanding[outer] side walls attached to respective said bottom side edges, twoupstanding end walls attached to respective said bottom end edges, a [aninner] side wall panel connected to each end wall by a vertical foldline and forming a wall angle, [said inner side Wall panels beinginwardly disposed contiguous with said outer side walls] a first flangeconnected along the upper edges of one said end wall and its attachedsaid [inner] side wall panels by a score line, said first flangeextending outwardly and downward from [over] the upper ends of said sidewalls adjacent Said one end wall und termi- Ali noting downwardly alongthe side wall outer sur/ace, a second flange connected along the upperedges of the other said end wall and its attached said [inner] side wallpanels by a score line, said second flange extending outwardly anddownwardly from [over] said upper side wall ends adjacent Said other endwall and terminating downwardly along tlze side wall outer surface, saidfirst and second flanges extending outwardly of and around the wallangles formed between said end walls and said [inner] side wall panels,said flanges being under tension to maintain said flanges closelyadjacent said side wall and end Walls, said flanges terminating in loweredges adapted to be engaged [adjacent said end walls and said outer sidewalls of said body portion] by said oppositely disposed upwardlyextending locking edges of said [a] cover.

3. A [compartmented] container comprising a body portion and a liner[divider] portion, said body portion having a rectangular bottom,upstanding end -walls and upstanding outer side walls, a first pair ofupstanding inner side wall panels having inner edges connected alongwall angle fold lines respectively to the side edges of one said endwall, a second pair of upstanding inner side wall panels having inneredges connected along Wall angle fold lines respectively to the sideedges of the other said end wall, an elongated upstanding flange havingan inner side edge connected by a flange angle fold line along the outerside edge of each said side wall panel, each said flange having a freeouter side edge opposite its said inner side edge which terminatesinwardly of the container, said flanges connected to said first pair ofside wall panels being closely adjacent respective said flangesconnected to said second pair of side wall panels, means attached tosaid inner side wall panels for maintaining said outer side walls intheir upstanding positions, [said divider portion including a pair ofupstanding partition walls spaced in face to face relation generallyparallel to said. end walls and defining therebetween a space for thereception thereinto of said adjacent flanges] said liner [divider]portion including [having] side wall portions having outer nad inneredges and [connected along their inner edges by fold lines to respectiveside edges of said partition walls, each said side wall portion] beingrespectively positioned contiguous with a respective said inner sidewall panel with said [its] outer edge of said side wall portion nestedwithin a respective wall angle and its said inner edge nested within arespective flange angle thereby to lock said adjacent flanges betweensaid side wall portions of said liner [divider]` 4. A two-piececompartmented container comprising a body portion and a `dividerportion, said body portion including a rectangular bottom and upstandingend walls and upstanding outer side walls, a first pair of upstandinginner side wall panels having vertical inner edges connected along wallangle fold lines to respective vertical side edges of one said end wall,a second pair of upstanding inner side wall panels having vertical inneredges connected to respective vertical side edges of the other said endwall, an upstanding flange having a vertical inner side edge connectedby a flange angle fold line along the vertical outer side edge of eachsaid inner side wall panel, one said inner side Wall panel from eachsaid first and second pair of upstanding inner side wall panels beingsubstantially in the same plane and being contiguous with one said outerside Wall, the other said inner side wall panel from each said first andsecond pair of upstanding inner side wall panels being substantially inthe same plane and being contiguous with the other said outer side wall,each said flange extending generally perpendicularly from said innerside wall panel and inwardly of said body portion and terminating in anupstanding outer side edge therewithin, said flanges adjacent said oneouter side wall being positioned in closely spaced face to facerelation, said flanges adjacent said other outer side wall beingpositioned in closely spaced face to face relation, means attached tosaid inner side wall panels for maintaining said outer side walls intheir upstanding positions, .s aid divider portion including a pair ofupstanding partition walls spaced in face to face relation in a generalplane perpendicular to said outer side walls and defining therebetween aspace for the reception thereinto of said flanges, said divider portionhaving sid wall portions connected along their inner edges by fold linesto respective side edges of said partition walls, each said side wallportion being positioned contiguous with a respective said inner sidewall panel with its outer edge nested within a respective wall angleformed between respective said inner side wall panel and respective saidend wall, and with its inner edge nested within a respective flangeangle formed between respective said flange and respective said innerside wall panel thereby forcing said closely spaced flanges adjacenteach said outer side wall into face to face contact and locking saidflanges between said side wall portions of said divider.

5. The container as defined in claim 4 wherein said means formaintaining said outer side walls includes a first elongated flangeconnected along the upper edges of said first pair of inner side wallpanels and said one end wall by double score lines, a second elongatedHarige connected along the upper edges of said second pair of inner sidewall panels and said other end wall by double score lines, saidelongated flanges being folded substantially 180 outwardly over theupper edge portions of said outer side walls, said elongated flangesbeing closely adjacent the respective outer surfaces of said end wallsand the outer surfaces of said outer side walls, said outer side wallupper portions being nested between said elongated flanges and saidinner side wall panels thereby maintaining said outer side wall panelsin their upstanding positions.

6. A covered rectangular container comprising a body portion and a coverportion, said body portion including two upstanding spaced end walls andtwo upstanding spaced side walls forming four wall angles, said bodyportion having a rst elongated flange extending outwardly t anddowwardly from [over] the upper ends of one said side wall and one saidend wall and terminating in a lower edge spaced downwardly from saidupper ends, said body portion having a second elongated flange extendingoutwardly and downwardly from [over] the upper ends of the other saidside wall and the other said end wall and terminating in a lower edgespaced downwardly from said upper ends, said flanges respectively beingcontinuous around the wall angle between said one end and side wall andsaid other end and side wall, said flanges being under tension tomaintain said flanges closely adjacent said end walls and side walls,said cover including a top panel and depending end and side walls, meansattached to said cover end and side walls for lockingly engaging saidelongated flanges of said body portion adjacent each said end walls andside walls of said body portion, said means for lockingly engaging saidelongated flanges including a pair of side flanges attached to therespective lower edges of said depending side Walls by fold lines, apair of end flanges attached to the respective lower edges of saiddepending end walls by fold lines, said side and end flanges beingfolded inwardly of said cover and upwardly from said lower edges of saiddepending walls and terminating in upper edges, said upper edges of saidcover flanges upwardly abutting said lower edges of said body flangesadjacent respective said end walls and side walls of said body portionthereby locking said cover on said body portion.

7. An integral blank for folding into a container body comprising arectangular bottom having a first pair of [elongated] edges oppositelydisposed and a second pair of [reduced] edges oppositely disposed whichextend laterally of said first pair of [elongated] edges, a pair ofrectangular outer side walls having their lower edges respectivelyconnected by fold lines to said frs! pair of 75 [elongated] edges, apair of rectangular end walls having their lower edges respectivelyconnected by fold lines to said second pair of [reduced] edges, a pairof rectangular inner side wall panels having side edges, one said sideedge of each said pair of inner side wall panels respectively connectedby a fold line to cach side edge of one said end wall, another pair ofrectangular inner side wall panels having side edges, one of said sideedges of each said other pair of inner side wall panels respectivelyconnected by a fold line to cach side edge of the other said end wall,an elongated flange connected to the upper edge of said one end wall andto the upper edges of said pair of inner side wall panels by scorelines, another elongated flange connected to the upper edge of saidother end wall and to the upper edges of said other pair of inner sidewall panels by score lines, said flanges being uninterrupted adjacentthe connections between said end walls and said inner side wall panels,said flanges being adapted and arranged to be folded substantially 180to be closely adjacent the outer surfaces of said end walls and saidinner wall panels a pluraity of locking flanges respectively connectedto the other said side edge of respective said inner side wall panel.

8. An integral rectangular blank for folding into a container bodycomprising a rectangular bottom having opposite end edges and oppositeside edges, a pair of end walls having lower edges respectivelyconnected to said bottom end edges, a pair of outer side walls havinglower edges respectively connected to said bottom side edges, a rst pairof inner side wall panels being respectively connected by wall anglefold lines to respective side edges of one said end wall, a second pairof inner side wall panels being respectively connected by wall anglefold l1nes to respective side edges of the other said end wall, saidinner side wall panels having lower free edges severed from the sideedges of said outer side walls, an elongated flange extending along theupper edges of said one end wall and said first pair of inner side wallpanels and being connected thereto by a double score line, anotherelongated flange extending along the upper edges of said other end walland said second pair of inner side wall panels and being connectedthereto by another double score lme, each said flange beinguninterrupted adjacent the connection between said end walls and innerside wall panels, said flanges being adapted to be folded on said doublescore lines outwardly of said end walls and said inner side wall panels,the upper edges of said outer side walls being adapted to be nestinglydisposed between said flanges and said inner side wall panels [walls]said outer side walls having a predetermined length, a plurality oflocking flanges respectively connected by a fold line to the other sideedge of respective said inner side wall panel, the distance between saidside edges of said inner Side wall panels being approximately one-halfsaid predetermined length of said outer side walls.

9. An integral blank for folding into a container body comprising agenerally rectangular bottom having [elongated] side edges and endedges, a pair of outer side walls having [elongated] lower edgesconnected by fold lines respectively to said [elongated] side edges ofsaid bottom, a pair of end walls having lower edges connected by foldlines respectively to said end edges of said bottom, a first pair ofinner side Wall panels having side edges connected by wall angle foldlines respectively to the side edges of one said end wall, a second pairof inner side wall panels having side edges connected by wall angle foldlines respectively to the side edges of the other said end wall, a firstelongated flange connected to the upper edges of said first pair ofinner side wall panels and the upper edge of said one end wall by adouble score line, and a second elongated flange connected to the upperedges of said second pair of inner side wall panels and the upper edgeof said other end wall, said inner side wall panels having lower freeedges respectively severed from the side edges of said outer side wallsan elongated flap connected by a fold line to each said inner sidepanels along its side edge opposite the wall angle connection with saidend wall.

10. A covered rectangular container comprising a body portion and acover portion, said body portion including two upstanding spaced endwalls and two upstanding spaced side walls forming four wall angles,said body portion having a rst elongated ange extending outwardly anddownwardly from [over] the upper ends of one said side wall and one saidend wall and terminating in a lower edge spaced downwardly from saidupper ends, said body portion having a second elongated iiange extendingoutwardly and downwardly from [over] the upper ends of the other saidside wall and the other said end wall and terminating in a lower edgespaced downwardly from said upper ends, said anges respectively beingcontinuous around the wall angle between said one end and side wall andsaid other end and side wall, said flanges being under tension tomaintain said anges closely adjacent said end Walls and side walls, saidcover including a top panel and depending end and side walls. said coverhaving means on oppositely disposed said cover walls [attached to saidcover end and side walls] for lockingly engaging said elongated flangesof said body portion adjacent oppositely disposed said body walls [eachsaid end Walls and Side walls of said body portions], each of saidelongated anges of said body portion having opposite ends, said ends ofeach said ange being located adjacent respective said body side walls[generally medially there], [said ends of said first ange being closelyadjacent respective ends of said second Bange] said cover meansincluding upward free edges engaging under respective said lower freeedges of said [side flanges engaging said first and second] body flanges[ange adjacent respective side walls of said body portionsl l1. Arectangular container comprising a body portion including a bottom andupstanding end walls and upstanding outer side walls, upstanding innerside wall panels connected by vertical wall angle fold lines to eachsaid end wall, said inner side wall panels extending from said wallangles toward the opposite end wall and terminating in an inwardlydirected vertical locking flange generally perpendicular to said outerside walls, said locking anges adjacent respective outer side walls`being in face to face adjacent relation, flange means directlyconnected to said inner side wall panels and engaging said outer sidewall panels for maintaining said outer side walls in upstandingpositions, and another means positioned Within said body portionengaging said locking flanges for retaining said locking flanges in saidface to face relation.

l2. A closed rectangular container having a body and a cover, said covercomprising a rectangular top having four edges and four depending wallsrespectively attached to said edges, means for locking said cover tosaid body, said means including a pair of portions respectivelyassociated with a pair of oppositely disposed said depending walls andterminating upwardly in respective locking edges with in said cover,said body comprising a rectangular bottom having four edges and fourupstanding walls respectively attached to said edges, each said bodywall lll meeting two adjacent body walls to form respetcive wall anglesbetween each meeting pair of body walls, said body walls having upperend portions constituting the upper portions of said body and each saidupper end portion terminating upwardly in an upper edge, flange meansdisposed outwardly of and substantially surrounding said upper portionof said body, said flange means being substantially continuous aroundeach of said wall angles, each said body wall having an inwardly facinginner surface, said flange means including flange portions respectivelyhaving an outwardly exposed outer surface which is respectivelycontinuous from and along said inner surface of said body wall and oversaid body wall upper edge, said flange portions being outwardly disposedalong respective upper end portions of said body walls and terminatingdownwardly in exposed lower edges outwardly of said body and below saidupper edges of said body walls, said locking edges of said coverengaging respective oppositely disposed said lower edges of said flangeportions thereby retaining said cover against upward removal from saidbody.

13. The closed rectangular container as defined in claim l2 wherein saidflange means comprises a pair of semiperimeter flanges.

I4. Tlte closed rectangular container as defined in claim 12 whereinsaid means for locking comprises another pair of portions respectivelyassociated with tlte other pair of oppositely disposed said dependingwalls and terminating upwardly in respective locking edges within saidcover, said locking edges of said other pair of portions of said coverengaging the other respective oppositely disposed said lower edges ofsaid flange portions.

15. The closed rectangular container as defined in claim 12 wherein saidfour upstanding walls of said body are formed by respective fourcontinuous wall panels and wherein each of two opposite said upstandingwalls of said body are also formed by two partial wall panels.

16. The closed rectangular container as dened in claim l5 wherein eachof said two partial wall panels are inwardly disposed with respect torespective said continuous wall panels.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented iile of this patent or the original patent.

`DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

